9 Free Caligraphy Fonts

As if I didn’t have enough to do, I sometimes day dream about starting to learn calligraphy. I mean, I sort of have neat handwriting. When I try to, at least. And how great would it be to embellish homemade gifts with custom-lettered calligraphy, like, all the time? And if you’re planning a wedding or another huge bash, don’t even get me started. You could save tons of dough if you knew how to do calligraphy.

But I usually snap out of that day dream pretty quickly when I realize that calligraphy can be an expensive hobby. And it takes a lifetime of practice to become as good as gals like Melissa Esplin and Jessica Hische.

So for the rest of us, there’s fonts. I’ve spent some time collecting them on my laptop for my projects and crafts (like the Pumpkin Place Cards I made last Halloween, featuring the Some Weatz font), and I thought “Why not share these?”

Nightauel

Calligraphy was one of my earliest “craft” efforts, and I promise, it’s not that hard. I did it as a teenager, taught myself and my second job “in the real world” was as a calligrapher. There are some fonts that are more difficult than others, but the truth is that if you remember to hold your calligraphy pen at the same angle throughout your project, if your letters are all the same size and if your handwriting is consistent, you will produce enviable calligraphy.

Sarah

JustSayin'

Not all of these fonts are free! You really ought to check the licensing on them before claiming that. A few specifically say for “PERSONAL USE ONLY”, meaning they cannot be used for commercial use, business use, on any product that you intend to distribute for profit. This post is going around Pinterest. When people pin this thinking these fonts are free, you’re subjecting them to possible legal consequences. Just sayin…

Taryn

Hi there, I didn’t mean to be misleading. The image going around Pinterest states that they’re free fonts “…for invitations, envelopes, escort cards and menus.” And I tried to make clear in the text that these can be used for personal wedding and event projects, but you’re right; I needed to be more explicit. Thanks for bringing it to my attention!

Kate

Hi there,
Am I being completely silly? How do I actually use the font once I have downloaded it? Do I need to import it to MS Word? I have the zipped and unzipped files sitting in My Docs but don’t know what to do with them!! Please help! 🙂

Taryn

Hi everyone! Once you’ve gone to the site and gotten the font files downloaded, installing them is easy, but different for every machine. A quick Google search (“How do I install fonts on my “) will get you all set up.

On my Windows PC, it’s as easy as opening the font folder I downloaded, finding the file that ends in “.ttf” or “.otf” and doucle-clicking. This opens the font window, and there’s a button in the upper left that says “Install Font.” You might have to close and re-open any open programs like Word to get the fonts to show up after the install.

On my Mac, I have to move the “.ttf” or “.otf” file into the Fonts folder, which you can find nested inside the Library folder. Again, you’ll have to close and re-open programs before the fonts show up in your fonts list.

Thanks so much for sharing these beautiful fonts. I cannot believe there are so many free and great looking ones out there. My computer is just filling up with the ones I download, but I can appreciate written things with beautiful fonts so much more! These are some great finds, some that I wouldn`t have considered otherwise, perhaps.
Thanks again 🙂

Welcome!

I’m Taryn Williford. I write about cleaning and living well as the Lifestyle Editor at Apartment Therapy. You might also know me from the Pickle Factory Loft on Instagram. Other obsessions include: skincare, koozies, plants and boy bands.